If anyone knows how good laughter is for the body, it would be me. My grandfather used to research the beneficial effects of laughter on the elderly. He would read the comic paper on Sunday afternoons and laugh out loud as he did so. He taught me the joy of humor in sticky situations.
And, having all of these children in my life has continued my life lesson. Not to mention all of the time spent as a day care worker and a teacher. Some professions just lend themselves to humorous moments.
But, I have to admit, growing older and going through so much oft times steals away my sense of humor. Frankly, it's rare. I smiled while taking the test for the Census job the other day.....I didn't realize it, but the woman told me that I was the only person in the room smiling. I had been thinking how amusing it was that so many obvious professionals were so tense about getting a temporary job going house to house. A sad but humorous statement of the current economy. It's not the news that tells you how things are; it's going in to McDonald's and seeing a former CEO working the drive through.
Hard times are all around us. And we can't really laugh about them. But we can find funny books. Comics. Funny pictures. We can find things that are worth laughing about. Like a first graders jokes. Or a preschooler telling what they really want for their birthday. Or the misspellings on bulletin boards. Or the clowns at Children's Hospital. Or the magician who asks for an assistant. Or your friend who does something really funny like getting her toe stuck in a recliner. I mean, there is always something to laugh about. Sometimes a funny movie is just the thing.
When you are somber and "in a mood", look for ways to laugh. My grandpa survived lymphoma when he only had a ten percent "chance" of living. He had open heart surgery. He was sick for years. But you never would have known it. He laughed. He found the funny side of life. He looked for funny books. He loved the "Family Circus". And he taught me that though life is sometimes hard. Often hard. There's always somewhere to go to find a good laugh.
Make it a habit every day to laugh. Really laugh. Outright. Not in your mind. With your body.
The Bible says that a cheerful heart is good medicine.
Find ways to laugh. TODAY. And, just as importantly, help others to do the same. Especially those kids in your life. Life gets too serious too fast. There are good and appropriate times to laugh yourself silly. Help them to find those times.
blessings,
rhonda
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